Process for recovery of boron halides



June 5, 1945. w. N. AxE 2,371,396

PROCESS FOR RECOVERY 0F BRON HALIDES I l Filed March -26, 1945 ATTORNEYS 'PatenteclJune 5,'1945 William Nelson Axe, Bartlesville, Okla., yassiglior to Phillips Petroleum of Delaware Company, a corporation f Application March 2s, 1943, serial No. 480,697

posal of spent acid and by-product salts. Other 13 Claims.

This` invention relates to an improved method for the concentration and/or recovery of boron halides. More specically'it relates to the recovery of boron iluoridefrom normally gaseous hydrocarbons and mixtures of hydrocarbons and inert gases. One specific embodiment of this invention relates to an improved process for the selective absorption of boron fluoride from a hydrocarbon gas stream by means of an ether and subsequent recovery oi' substantially pure boron fluoride from the absorbent.

Recently it has been discovered that boron iluoride and particularly coordination compounds of boron fluoride possess unusual catalytic activity when applied to a wide variety of polymerization, isomerization and alkylation'A reactions. Even more recently it has been discovered that exceptional catalyst liie in alkylation and other hydro- Vcarbon conversion reactions canbe realized by the continuous activation of boron -uoride complex compounds with gaseous boron `iluoride.

, However, regardless of the mode of operation,

where boron fluoride or its complex compounds are employedas catalysts, vfree boron fluoride will usually be found among the hydrocarbon reaction products. The recovery and reuse oi boron fluoride, therefore, results in extraordinary economy of operation. Such a recovery process is of particular benefit where boron fluoride is employed as an activator in allqrlation reactions leading to the Vproductionl of high-octane blending agents for aviation fuels.

It has heretofore been proposed to effect the removal of boron fluoride from gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon streams by means of aqueous alka- IT line solutions and the like. However, because of its high degree of activity, the recovery of boron iluoride, as such, froin the products of such chemical reactions is a difllcult problem. lIt has also been proposed, for example, to employ ammonia and amines as agents for the extraction of boron nltration; (3) reduction of the water content oi" the precipitate to bone-dry cndtions; (4) de* composition of NHrBFa with percent sulfuric acid at a'temperature of about-410 F.; (5) dislist recovery methods have been proposed which also involve the formation of stable compounds and are objectionable for the reasons hereinbefore presented.

The principal object of the present inventionV is to provide a process for the efcient .and economical removal of boron fluoride from gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon mixtures which include such other components as methane, ethane, propane, and xed gases. Another object of this invention is to provide a process whereby boron fluoride can be recovered continuously from hydrocarbon streams ilowing from reactions of the.

type described and can be recovered and returned to the reaction zone without appreciable loss or, without appreciable consumption of other chempresent invention is notv limited thereto, the unusual capacityof the preferred absorbents is or-l temperatures. While complex compounds of boron fluoride and ethers in general are relatively stable at normal temperatures,"decomposition by heating at elevated temperatures results in the evolution oi boron fluoride from certain ofy the vcomplex compounds more readily than from others. This characteristic of certain of the compounds of boron iiuoride and ethers is utilized as described vhereinafter to recover the original constituent compounds for reuse in the respective process operations.

The organic ethers for use according tothe process of this invention may be selected from the group corresponding tothe type formula x-o-Y where x is an aikyiradical with or without substituents other than hydrogen and Y is either an alkyl or an aryl radical, also with or without subsucuents .other than hydrogen. substituents other than hydrogen which may be present in the hereinafter.

The relative stability of complex compounds of boron fluoride and ethers has been found to vary with the size andl structure of the hydrocarbon radicals of the ether molecule, as Well as with the substituents of said radicals. Thus, for example, the unsubstituted lower members of the homologous dialkyl ether series, dimethyl and diethyl ether, form stable complex compounds with boron fluoride which may be distilled without decomposition, and which are not particularly well suited to the recovery of boron iluoride by thermal means. However,

2,2dichlorodiethyl ether (known to the'trade as chlorex) forms a lessA thermally stable complex from which boron uoride is relatively easily recovered. I have also found that dibutyl ether and higher aliphatic ethers form less stable complex compounds which are much more susceptible to thermal decomposition. However, the thermal decomposition oi' complex compounds of higher aliphatic .ethers and boron uoride often results in side reactions which form polymers or otherwise destroy the ethers.

Furthermore, I have discovered that 'the absorbing capacity for boron fluoride of diaryl ethers such as diphenyl ether is often much below that o! the aliphatic compounds, presumably because of the reduced tendency toward the formation of complex compounds with boron uoride under conditions normally essential to the herein- 1 after described process.

proximately one mol of boron fluoride; per mol oi the ether. These complex compounds are-relatively stable at moderate temperatures,'fbut may be decomposed with recovery o!v boron uoride by l the simple application oi heat and/o; reduction of pressure. Ordinarily a high degree oir-dissocition products and thereforemay have to be rer moved from the reactor efliuent. -Since boron uoride has a boiling point between that of methane and that' of. ethane, one speciiic embodi' ment of the present process comprises opera.

fluoride. The overhead light gases may then be f contacted in a suitable countercurrent operation 'with a selected ether to remove boron uoride.

When boron uoride recovery is practiced, the absorption liquor is stripped of its Iboron iluoride in a column operated at a temperature level suillcient to effect decomposition ci the boron fluoride complex at a satisfactory rate. The gaseous boron fluoride is then compressed and returned f ing drawing which is a ilow diagram which shows lmation of complex compounds containing apatibn into boron fluoride and the vether is realized at temperatures` of approximately 150 to approximately 3507F., although variations from and within theselimits may occur, depending on the particular mixedether employed, the pressure and the degree oi' saturation ot the absorbent liquid with respect to boron nuoride.

The process of this invention for the recovery of boron uorlde is particularly applicable to hydrocarbon conversion proc in which boron uorlde, boroniuoride complex compounds lor combinations of a complex and free boron duoride lare employed as catalysts, for example, in hydrocarbon alkylation p.- In .such instances, the eilluent hydrocarbon stream i'rom the alkyiation reaction zone' may contain quantities oi' boron fluoride which it is desirable to remove and/er recover for further use in the process. The quantities involved may vary, dependent on the catalyst composition and the reaction conditions. In plant operation, appreciable quanti'- ties ot methane, ethane and propane may be ineluded in the hydrocarbon feed stocks or reacto the alkylation system. 1

A specific embodiment of the boron fluoride recovery process is illustrated in the accompanyan `arrangement of process equipment or apparatus dor the continuous recovery of boron fluoride from a gas stream containing C; and lighter hydrocarbons and/or fixed gases. The

raw gasmay be the overhead stream from a de propanizing column of an alkylation plant or other hydrocarbon conversion process. Such a raw gas enters the absorber l through line 2 atv 'a pressure substantially' the same as that maintained in the stabilizing column, which may be .l

operated at pressures from about atmospheric to 500 pounds per square inch gage or more de pending on the composition of the gas. The raw gas is intimately contactedin a countercurrent operation with .the mixed aromatic-aliphatic` ether such as anisole entering through the conduit 3 at the top of `th'e absorber. The treated gas, free of boron uoride, is vented `through conduit or une 4. The boron sunrise-ether om. plex along with excess ether passes through line B and heater 6 and thence through line 1 and a pressure reducer (not shown) into ilash chamber' l. The combined eect of the increased temperature and reduction in pressurev may result in the liberation of part of the .combined boron iluoride which passes out of: the -flash .chamber through line I. The ether-boron fluoride liquor is next pumped to a conventional stripping column- I0 through line lli. Suillcient heat isfapplied at the bottom of the column to eiIect iurlther decompositionof the boron iluoride-ether addition compound..y The evolved boron uorlde leaves the stripper via conduits or lines I! Aand 0. After passing through cooler Il the boron uoride and entrained ether enter the bottom ci' separator I 4. At the lower temperatures pre- -top of the separator through line I1 to aid in the separation of the last traces of entrained absorbent. The boronI fluoride is conducted from the separator through line I8 to compressor il and thence to storage.4 The stripped absorbent is Dumped from the bottom of the stripping column through line 20 andpump 2l to cooler 22 andbackthroughconduitltotheabsorber L.'

` through line 2. charged through line 4 and may be returned tol5 vAn alternative mode of operation with respect to the stripping step can be advantageously employed in connection with processes wherein boron fluoride is recycled in a'hydrocarbon vapor or liquid stream, e. g., as in theialkylation of isobutane. The recovered boron iuoride may be -fed to the alkylation reactor in the isobutane stream, and isobutane may be employed to aid in stripping lboron vfluoride from the ether complex.

In accordance with this alternative mode of 10 operation, referring to the accompanying drawing, the raw gas. which comprises boron iiuorlde and isobutane, is introduced to the absorber I The separated isobutane is disthe alkylation reactor in the isobutane stream thereof or may be used as stripping gas in stripper I by charging itto line 23. The boron fluoride absorbed in the ether in absorber I is passed through line 5 to heater 6. From heater 6 the 20 Il. Stripping gas, which is isobutane from line 4 or from an external source, is introduced to the bottom of stripper I0 through line 23. Boron fluoride together with isobutane that was used in the stripping operation ls discharged from stripper I0 through lines I2 and 9 and passes 30 through cooler I3 and separator Il. A considerable reduction in the operating temperature may be realized by the use of isobutaneasa stripping I agent in accordance with this modification. The

remainder of the operation remains unchangedplf After passing through compressor l9, the recycle mixture of hydrocarbon (isobutane) and boron fluoride is returned directly to the alkylation reaction zone.

The preferred absorbents for use according to the process of the invention are 2,2dichlorodi ethyl ether and mixed aromatic-aliphatic ethers such as anisole (phenyl'methyl ether), phenetole pheny1 vethyl ether),-to1y1 methyl ethers, to1y1 ethyl ethers, and the methyl and ethyl ethers of the isomeric xylenols. In general it is preferred to employ only such mixed ethers in which the aliphatic radical contains not more than about 6 'carbon atoms since there may be some tendency toward decomposition of the ther in the presence oi' boron fluoride where longer aliphatic chains are involved. In those instances where the aliphatic radical contains not more than about 3 carbon atoms, mixtures of the ether and etherboron fluoride complex can usually be heated to,

covery process of this invention withv relatively pure compounds, mixtures of ethers, such as those may be satisfactorily employed. While the absorbents may contain relatively inert impurities or diluents it is usually preferred` to employ mixtures relatively free of phenolic o r alcoholic impurities.

is not necessary and in many instances may be A undesirable. I'he degree of saturation of the absorber aiiluent usually depends on thel partial pressure of boron fluoride in the gas stream being treated and the vapor pressure of the solution of boron fiuoride-ethercomplex in the etherab- 775 sorbent. 'I'he specic operating concentrations for any particular application may be chosen to conform to eiiicient absorption practice in view of the pressure, temperature and boron uorlde content oi' the gas stream undergoing treatment.

Absorber pressures are preferably chosen in accordance with the composition of the raw gas stream, especially with respect to its boron fluorlde content. Pressures inthe neighborhood of 150 pounds per square inch gage are generally adequate for eilicient operation leven with very lean gases. Ii' the raw gas is rich in methane andt ethane, absorber pressures as high as 500 pounds per square inch may be employed; In order to prevent excessive accumulation of hydrocarbons in the absorbent, gas-liquid contacting is preferred and pressures vare regulated to maintain this condition. Y Y

InA the absorption step of thisprocess, moderate or subatmospheric temperatures are employed since'formation of the ether-boron fluoride complex compound is favored at such temperatures. Dissociation of the complex compounds at atmospheric pressure sets in rapidly above approximately F. The preferred operating range for absorption is preferably between approximatev ly 50 and approximately 110 F., although lower temperatures are operative and higher temperatures may be employed at higher absorbing pressures.

In the strippingzone,low superatmospheric to atmospheric pressure is preferred since decomposition of the ether-boron fluoride complex can be eiiected at moderately elevated temperatures at such pressures. In most instances desorption or dissociation of the boron Suor-ide at these pressures is complete at temperatures below approximately 350 F. The maximum temperature re` quired depends 'on the absorbent used, the pressure, and the mode of operation, i. e.. gas stripping or other desorption aids in the stripping zone.

It is not intended that the present invention be limited to any specific theories of operation nor to the absorbents or conditions of specific examples which4 are presented for thepurpose of ill v1stration.

Example I A Cz-Ca gas mixture containing 10 mol per cent of boron fluoride was passed through an absorption tower in which various ethers were used as absorbents until the ether was completely saturated. The absorption conditions were atmospheric temperature and pressure. 'I'he weight of boron fluoride absorbed. was obtained from the increase in weight of the absorbent. The saturated absorbent was then heated to temperatures below 350 F. andthe evolution of boron fluoride was determined by the loss in weight. Results are listed in the following table.

-. Ether BF; ,lather mol ratio BF; recovery Dlmethyl l (approx.) 'None (distilled with- 'V out decomposii tion Diathyl l (approx.) Do.

Dibutyl 1 (approx.) Partial (polymer forl mation). Diphenyl Very slight absorption .at speciilod conditions.v 2,2dichlorodioth l 1 Com lete. Phei l methyl ani- 1 1go.

so e Phenyl ethyl (phenel Do.

tole).

I i'llloride.

Example II In isobutaneethylene alkylation over HzO-BFa-HF boxyl-substituted alkyl radicals, and Y is a radi- 1 li (l the `light gas. stream by contact with anisole (phnyl'methyl ether) at 80 to 100'.I F.`and a gage pressure of 150 pounds per square inch. The BF:

is recovered in substantially pure form for revcycling by heating and stripping the rich abr. 4 sorbent at l18o-200 F. and 15'pounds gage pres- Eraniple III Results similar to those obtained in Example1 II are obtained when phenetoleV (phenyl ethyl ether) is substituted for anisole in the process described inExample II. Y

Example IV when 2,2'dich1orod1ethy1 ether is substituted.

i'or anisole in the process of Example II, similar 'results are obtained; A

Although the invention is particularly applicable to the separation and recovery of boron nuoride from gaseous mixtures it may also be used for the separation of boron chloride or other boron halides from such mixtures whenv present alone or in admixture with boron fluoride.

Inasmuch as`the foregoing description comprises preferred embodiments ,of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is not' 'the same, which comprises contacting said fluid mixture with -a liquid absorbent comprising an.

organic ether which forms a complex or addition compound with the boron halide that decomposes substantially completely at a higher temperature but below approximately 350 F. into its constituent compounds, separatingunabsorbed iiuid from said lliquid absorbent, and heating the liquid absorbent containing said complex or additionA compound to liberate the boron halide. l

2. A proces'svfor the separation andvrecovery-A substantially completely at a higher temperature but below approximately 350 F. into its constituent compounds and having general vformula, X-'O-Y, in which X is a; radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, halogen-substituted alkyl, alkoxy-substituted alkyl and esteried carcalfselected from the group consisting of alkyl,` halogen `substituted alkyl, alkoxy substituted alkyl, esteriiied carboxyl-substituted alkyl, aryl.'

halogen-substituted aryl, alkoxy-substituted aryl and esteriiledv carboxyl-substituted aryl radicals, separating unabscnbed fluid from said complex or addi-tion compound and heating said complex.

or addition compound to liberate the boron halide. 4. A process according to claim 3 in which the boron halide is boron i1uoride.

5. A process for the separation and recovery of boron fluoride-trom a gaseous mixture containing the same, which comprises contacting said gaseous mixture .with a liquidabsorbent comprising a'mixed aromatic aliphatic ether which forms a complex or addition compound with boron iiuoride that decomposes substantially completelyv at `a higher temperature but 4below approximately 350 F. into its constituentcompounds and in whichthe alkyl group contains not more than '6 carbon atoms, separating unabsorbed gases from said liquid absorbent, and `heating the liquid absorbent containing absorbed boron fluoride to liberate boron iiuorlde.

6. A process as dened iniclaim 5 and further characterized in that the absorption is conducted at a temperature within the range of to 110 F. and at a pressure-not in excess of 500 pounds per square inch, and the heating `f the liquid absorbent containingabsorbed boron uoride is The inv conducted at a 'temperature not lsubstantially above approxdmately 350 F. Y

ether, separating unabsorbed gases from` said liquid absorbent,and;heating the liquid absorbent containing absorbed boron fluoride to liberate boron fluoride.'

s. A process as defined in claim v and further' characterized in that the absorption is conducted and at a pressure not in excess of 500 pounds per square inch, and the heating of the liquid absorbent containing absorbed boron uoride is conducted fat a temperature not substantially of boron iiuoride from a gaseous mixture containing the'same, which comprises contacting said gaseous mixture with a liquid absorbentpcomprising an organic ether which forms a complex or addition compound with boron iluoridei that decomposes substantially completely at a higher temperature but below approximately 350" F. in-

to its constituentcompounds, separatingjunabaorbed gases from said liquid absorbent. and- 'heating the liquid absorbent containing said complex or additionvcompound to 'liberate boron above approximately 350 F.

9. A process for the separation and recovery of boron fluoride from agaseous mixture, 'which comprises contacting said gaseousvmixture with f a liquid absorbent comprisinghnisole, separating at a temperature within the range oi 50 to 110 l". and at a pressure not in excess oi' 500 pounds per square inch, and the heating of the liquid absorbent containing absorbed boron uoride 'is conducted at a'- temperature not substantial] above approximately 350 F.

' `11. A process for the separation and recovery l f otboroniluoride from a gaseous mixture, which stream with a liquid absorbent comprising an orcomprises contacting said gaseous mixture with a liquid absorbent comprising phenetole, separatunabsorbed gases from said liquid absorbent,

2,s77,soc v- 5 and heating the liquid absorbent containing abing a mixed aromatic-aliphatic ether which forms boron iiuoride to liberate boron fluoride. y a complexor addition compound with boron fluo- A process as deiined inclaim 11 and further ride that decomposes substantially completely at cterized in that the absorption is conducted a higher temperature but below approximately temperature within the rang'e of 50 to 110 5 350 F. into its constituent compounds and in F. and at a pressure not in excess of 500 pounds which the alkyl group contains not more than 6 per square inch, andthe heating of the liquid abcarbon atoms, separating unabsorbed gasesv from sorbent containing absorbed boron fluoride is consaid liquid absorbent, and stripping boron uoride ducted at a temperature not substantially labove from the liquid absorbent containing the same by approximately 350 F.

lo passing a stripping agent consisting essentially 13. A process for the separation and recovery of isobutane through'the liquid absorbent at an o! boron iiuoride from a gaseous mixture containelevated temperature.

the `same, which comprisesA contacting said mixture with a liquid absorbent compris. WILLIAM NELSON AXE.

,CERTIFICATE OF CRREGI'ION.

Patent No. 2, 577,396. lJune 5, 19Li5.

`WILLIAM lNELSON AXE.

It is herebycertified that error appears in theprinted speeificationof the above numbered patent requiringcor'rection as follows: Page 2, first columnLlineliZ, after the wordfaliphatic" insert .-radice.1l;page5, first column, line A"(2 f'or 'V'affluent" read "effluent-; and that the seid Letters 'Patent should be read with this correction 'therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of' September, A.. D. 1914.5.

v Leslie Frazer (Seal): First Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

2,s77,soc v- 5 and heating the liquid absorbent containing abing a mixed aromatic-aliphatic ether which forms boron iiuoride to liberate boron fluoride. y a complexor addition compound with boron fluo- A process as deiined inclaim 11 and further ride that decomposes substantially completely at cterized in that the absorption is conducted a higher temperature but below approximately temperature within the rang'e of 50 to 110 5 350 F. into its constituent compounds and in F. and at a pressure not in excess of 500 pounds which the alkyl group contains not more than 6 per square inch, andthe heating of the liquid abcarbon atoms, separating unabsorbed gasesv from sorbent containing absorbed boron fluoride is consaid liquid absorbent, and stripping boron uoride ducted at a temperature not substantially labove from the liquid absorbent containing the same by approximately 350 F.

lo passing a stripping agent consisting essentially 13. A process for the separation and recovery of isobutane through'the liquid absorbent at an o! boron iiuoride from a gaseous mixture containelevated temperature.

the `same, which comprisesA contacting said mixture with a liquid absorbent compris. WILLIAM NELSON AXE.

,CERTTFICATE GF CRREGION.

\Patent No. 2,577;96- pJune 5, 195.

`WILLIAM lNELSON AXE.

It is herebycertified that error appears in theprinted speeificationof the above numbered patent requiringcor'rection as follows: Page 2, first columnLlineliZ, after the wordfaliphatic" insert .-radica1l;page5, first column, line T2, for affluent" read --effluent-g and that the said Letters 'Patent should be read with this correction 'therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office. a

Signed and sealed this 25th day of' September, A.. D. 1914.5.

v Leslie Frazer (Seal): First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

